Dual boot with same windows copy

[vincars]

On the same hard drive can you create 2 partitions and then using the same Windows XP or Vista license copy install the operating system on each partition? All searches I've done for dual boots are for different versions such as Win XP and Win 98 on different partitions. About 3 years ago before all the microsoft validation I installed the same win XP pro copy (DELL CD) on 2 separate hard drives on the same PC. One I use only for video. No antivirus, spyware or any other programs. Also tweaked Windows processes so minimal processes running. Sort of like a separate PC dedicated to video but at no extra cost. Looking into a new system and I understand windows vista (and XP) check hard drive ID's along with other hardware so what I did 3 years ago probably won't work now. Was / is this against microsoft license agreements? Wouldn't think so since a legal Windows license on a single PC!!.

[Abbadon]

Windows requires certain area of the hard disk to boot properly, you need a third party application to manage the booting of each OS stored in different partitions. Try searching for a tool called:
System Commander.

Maybe this one:
http://www.linguistsoftware.com/syscom.htm



I have not used this tool, so take my advice with caution.

[bevills1]

You should be able to create dual boot as desired simply by selecting "Fresh install" instead of upgrade after starting setup from the CD. I wouldn't think there'd be another activitation required, but I'm unsure of that since I'm running Win2k.

[wwaag]

I currently run 4 copies of XP off of the same hard drive: a clean OS version with limited apps; one for daily use; one for video editing only; and a fourth, for media serving. I use a boot manager called OSL2000. Works well. Good luck.

wwaag

[jameshgross]

My I suggest that you look at Microsoft Virtual PC.
This will allow you run multiple independent copies of any OS at the same time.

[RLT69]

vmware anyone

http://www.vmware.com/

I'm not sure you need a special bootloader to install a sperate copy of XP. XP like 2000 has it's own bootloader. So it should pick up the OS on the other partition. What might be confusing is see XP listed twice in the bootloader and figuring out which one to pick. This is where a 3rd party bootloader would come in handy.

If you have the time and the patience - experiment.

[JohnnyMalaria]

You can certainly install multiple copies of the same OS - just make sure that each one has its own partition. (I have XP MCE, XP Pro, XP Pro (Dutch), XP Pro x64 and Vista Ultimate)

Legally, that's another matter. If the activation succeeds, I would not worry. After all, you can't run both at the same time.

Regarding using Virtual PC, if you go that route, you'll have to activate the OS on the virtual machine and that will be different than the physical one.

[Cornucopia]

Don't need special anything. This can be done with 2k or XP.

Make 2 partitions.
Load OS, etc. on 1st partition.
Load OS, etc. on 2nd partition.
Boot up, you'll see something like:

• [Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  Edition]
  [Windows 2000 Professional]
  ...Select OS to load...etc.

Most likely, the most recently loaded one will be the "default/timeout" one.

Boot up, choose an OS, logon.
Then, find the BOOT.INI file (hidden, system, in the root of the 1st partition) and open in Notepad. It'll show something like:

• [boot loader]
  timeout=30
  default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
  [operating systems]
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional
  Edition" /fastdetect
  multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /
  fastdetect

Even if they're the same name, you can change the name (label). Save and restart.
That's it!

Scott

[ViRaL1]

IIRC, if you already have a separate partition available you should be able to install from the CD and choose to install to that partition.

Another option would be creating another profile and disabling the startup programs / services you don't want running in MSCONFIG.

[Cornucopia]

Go to http://hacks.oreilly.com/pub/h/591 for info on the boot switches for Boot.ini.

Scott